Welcome to On the Waterfront Sights
Top Experiences
- Ferry Building: Join locals eyeing produce and foods prepared by some of the city's best chefs at San Francisco's premier Saturday farmers' market.
- Hyde Street Pier: Sing sea chanteys and raise the sails aboard the 19th-century square-rigged ship Balclutha, then hit the Buena Vista for an Irish coffee.
- Alcatraz: Go from a scenic bay tour to "the hole"—solitary confinement in absolute darkness—while inmates and guards tell you stories about what life was really like on the Rock.
- F-line: Grab a polished wooden seat aboard one of the city's vintage streetcars and clatter down the tracks toward the Ferry Building's spire.
- Exploratorium: Play with the ultimate marble run or explore yourself in the Science of Sharing exhibit at this spectacular hands-on science museum.
Getting Here
The Powell–Hyde and Powell–Mason cable-car lines both end near Fisherman's Wharf. The walk from downtown through North Beach to the northern waterfront is lovely, and if you stick to Columbus Avenue, the incline is relatively gentle. F-line trolleys run all the way down Market to the Embarcadero, then north to the wharf.
Planning Your Time
If you're planning to go to Alcatraz, be sure to buy your tickets in advance, as tours frequently sell out. Alcatraz ferries leave from Pier 33—so there isn't a single good reason to suffer Pier 39's tacky, overpriced attractions. If you're a sailor at heart, though, definitely spend an hour with the historic ships of the Hyde Street Pier.
Ferries
The bay is a huge part of San Francisco's charm, and getting out on the water gives you an attractive and unique (though windy) perspective on the city. A ride on a commuter ferry is cheaper than a cruise, and just as lovely.
The Blue & Gold Fleet (www.blueandgoldfleet.com) offers scenic bay cruises around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. They also operate the commuter ferries Golden Gate Ferry and San Francisco Bay Ferry.
The Red and White Fleet (redandwhite.com)offrs cruises to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge—and beautiful sunset trips—all of which deliver splendid views of San Francisco
